It's quite evident, whenever you take particular notice to Phil York's career, that here is an artist that has worked hard and done so pretty much independently. A grafter in every sense of the word Phil's legacy in hard dance only needs to be defined by looking at his DJ diary or no less his rather impressive discography. Releasing anthems like 'Alright' and 'Vibrations' and albums like 'Heaven & Hell' with hardstyle and shranz King Dark By Design and that's only recently, Phil's dedication to his passions are such that he is consistently firing on all cylinders.

His work as a DJ allows him to rock out the main room of many a big arena event including the likes of Goodgreef, Storm, Colours, Slinky, Frantic, Defqon, Bionic, Freeformation et all, as well as internationally smashing it at events all over the globe in Argentina, Brazil, Norway, Canada, U.S.A, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Here Nick The Kid catches up with Phil ahead of his eagerly awaited appearence at Hindsight's Tenth Birthday this Friday at Bohemia in Torquay!

So where did it all start for you? What were your early experiences of underground dance music and raving? What inspired you to start DJ'ing?

I started DJ'ing when I was 12 so it was way before I looked old enough to blag into any clubs. I just loved the idea of controlling the music and at the time I was really into happy hardcore so I bought a set of shoddy belt drive decks and started practicing, messing around with my mates after school and then playing parties with my mates in school halls.

It wasn’t until I moved to Edinburgh to go to University that I started properly DJ'ing out in clubs and started my own night called ‘Naked’ with a few friends I met there. We brought up loads of hard dance DJ's for their debuts such as Lisa Lashes and then Nuklear Puppy came about a year or so later and that caused me to play in more clubs and more tours around Scotland.

Where and when was your first big break and how did it come about?

I think unlike many others I made it for myself by promoting my own events and then later on down the line setting up my own record label collective which led to a lot more international work. More recently I would say my signing to PFA has been my big break that means things have stepped up to another level!

Being an established DJ, Producer & Label Manager as well as other things - what is the most enjoyable aspect of the scene for you and why? Which do you prefer?

I love it all to be honest (apart from the travelling), but I think DJ'ing tops it all when your playing one of your own tracks and its going off!

You have been lucky enough to play in most corners of the globe from Brazil to Canada, Australia to South Africa which is your favourite Country to visit & why?

They all have their up's and downs, but I’ve always a special place in my heart for Australia, its got so much awesome scenery and mental animals how could you not love that!

What are your five favourite hard trance tracks of all time?

In no particular order..

1) Waltz & Feliz – 'Expander'
2) Brooklyn Bounce – 'Club Bizzare' (Scot Project Remix)
3) Hennes & Cold – 'The 2nd Trip'
4) Technikal & Marc French – 'Mad & Confused' (Guyver Remix)
5) Kai Tracid – 'Trance & Acid'

Your label Tranzlation has really been smashing it over the last twelve months with massive Euro remixes from the likes of production geniuses Luca Antolini /Andrea Montorsi & Wragg & Log:One amongst others. What are your plans for the label's future?

Lots more exciting releases, I used to mix up the releases between UK and European sounds, but over the past year or so I have been focussing on European sounds only and this is the way the label will be going from now on as sadly I think UK hard trance is a dying sound and I have done everything possible in this genre.

Our next release is ‘Acid Storm’ by a certain NickThe Kid & FJ Project with a remix by myself and Dark By Design and remix by the legend Tommy Pulse! After this I have a new collaboration with DBD with big mixes from Louk and up and coming producers Shockforce and then my collab with BRK3 ‘Traffic’ will hit the label with a massive set of remixes I am sorting out at the moment!

Tranzlation is one of the few hard dance labels still outputting vinyl regularly and not moved over to just a digital format. Is this likely to continue or will all fans of Tranzlation Vinyl have to invest in some CDJ's at some point?

I have always said I will keep vinyl going until the very bitter end and I will continue to do so, there isn’t any money in releasing on vinyl anymore hence most labels going solely digital but nothing beats having a release on vinyl so we will keep pressing as long as people keep buying!

At the start of the year you released the album Heaven & Hell alongside Dark By Design which was well received all over, are there any plans for more albums / mixes in the pipeline? Is there anything we should keep an eye out for in 2010?

Heaven and Hell hit the shops at the same time as the distributor (Pinnacle) went under so we were left seriously high and dry on that one with very little return for the huge investment we put in. So I don’t have any plans for any albums at the moment but I think by next year I will get itchy feet and will have changed my mind! I am mixing an album alongside Steve Hill for release in Australia and NZ next year as well.

If you had to pick one career highlight. what would it be? Have there been any intense, defining moments for you over the years?

It was a long time ago but I remember when I played at Foundation in Newcastle, a club I started my clubbing life going to week in, week out so it felt like a great step in the right direction to be stood behind the decks there when I was always the clubber looking up at the DJ!

How do you like to relax when you are away from the studio and the punishing gig schedule?

Nothing really over exciting. If I do get any time off I spend it sitting on my ass on my comfy sofa watching South Park or something like Celebrity Masterchef, sad really ha ha!

You've been a relatively new addition to our lineups at Hindsight, what were your first impressions and how does it compare to other hard dance events across the UK that you play at.

I played for the first time back in May and loved it! I think it differs to a lot of other hard dance due to the more European approach to the music policy and also it seemed a very friendly atmosphere, everyone seemed to know each other or want to speak with each other which I think is great!

You will be playing a back to back with hard trance / hard style legend Dark By Design at Hindsight's 10th Birthday, what have you both got in store for the Hindsight crowd on this very special occasion?

Lots of new productions and remixes we have been working on, we will be using this set to showcase most of these productions including a new official remix of RBA’s 'No Alternative' as well as another few cheeky remixes we have been working on. Not going to let too much out yet though you’ll have to come along to find out more!

With thanks to Phil York & Nick The Kid

Intro: Jon-Brown
Interview: Nick-The-Kid
Pictures: Supplied by Phil York, used with permission.